2017—Welcome Schedule for New Students

Move-in Day for Honors students is fast approaching! Honors will be hosting honors-specific events throughout move-in weekend and Ferris’s campus-wide Bulldog Beginnings will also host various activities and provide information about important dates, educational events, and fun activities to help you start off the Fall 2017 semester right.

Several activities planned during move-in weekend and Bulldog Beginnings are mandatory for first-year students in Honors because information vital to your success is shared at these events. From previous students’ experience, we know that through these activities you’ll make new friends and settle into the routine of collegiate life. Here is a quick schedule of what you can expect:

Thursday, August 24: (MOVE IN DAY)

Check in to your Residence Hall — 8:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m. During this time students will move-in to their rooms. New students, their families, friends and guests should feel free to do what they need to in order to settle into their new space.

Meet Your Peer Mentor — 5:30 to 6:00p.m. Meet and greet for mentors and mentees in South Quad/in front of The Rock Cafe

Welcome Dinner and Social — 6:00 to 8:00p.m. Honors students meet for Dinner, the Honors Induction Tradition and a Social in the University Center. This is an opportunity to meet other students as well as program staff (Mandatory).

Friday, August 25:

Honors Fun Day—10a.m. to 2:00p.m. A variety of outside activities with your mentors will help you learn the layout of campus. Make sure to ask your peer mentor where to meet for Fun Day (Mandatory).

First Impressions — 7:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. Learn about different opportunities at Ferris.

Academic Classroom Tours — 2:00 to 4:00p.m. Here is an opportunity to go on a guided tour to your classes to make sure you will be able to find your way on Monday.

Bulldog Welcome — 7:30p.m. – 9:30p.m. Event includes an official address to Ferris State University students welcoming them back to campus to kick off the 2017-18 academic year at Top Taggart Field. Ferris dignitaries will be on hand to talk about what it means to be a Bulldog. Attendees should use #ImABulldog on social media.

Residence Hall Association Movie in the Quad — 9:30 to 11:30p.m. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 will be shown on the South Quad. Bring a tarp or towel to sit on the lawn and enjoy a movie with new and old friend. Depending on the weather, you may want to bring a sweater or light jacket. Talk to your Mentor about weekend plans and check in with you RA to get connected in your hall.

Saturday, August 26:

Big Rapids Beginnings — 3:00 to 6:00p.m. Join a fun time in downtown Big Rapids. Big Rapids Beginnings in an opportunity for Ferris students to explore the many venues of the city’s downtown area. Shuttle transportation will be provided to local businesses in the downtown area. The event includes prizes, sidewalk sales, carnival food, an open mic and a Ferris Wheel.

Meijer Mania — 7:00 to 10:00p.m. This event is sponsored by and will take place at Big Rapids Meijer and includes bargains, giveaways, and more.

UC Late Night — 9:00p.m. to 12:00a.m. The University Center will host various events throughout the building. The event includes entertainment, music, prizes and more.

Sunday, August 27:

Recreation at the UC — 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. Come and join the UREC staff in fun activities at the University Center. Great opportunity to meet friends and learn how to combat the freshman 15.

#BulldogReady — 2:00 to 5:00p.m. Be prepared for the first day of classes. Stop by the bookstore to purchase your textbooks and get crafty ideas to get organized.

Dine with Professors — 5:00 to 7:00p.m. Want to practice your networking skills? Come and join some Ferris staff for dinner at the Rock Cafe. A great opportunity to ask questions and meet with some key people here on campus.

Residence Hall Programming — 7:00 to 11:00p.m. Check with your resident advisor for meeting times and location and stick around after the meetings for a social event.

Monday, August 28: (FIRST DAY OF CLASSES)

First Impressions — 8:00a.m. to 3:30p.m. Stations will be set up across campus to help students with a variety of needs, such as finding academic buildings to make it to classes on time, to find the campus bookstore, the Academic Support Center, dining facilities and more.

Rec Fest — 6:00p.m. The Student Recreation Center will be hosting its open house event. Come to the Rec Center to enjoy giveaways, generally have fun and to see what the facility and staff have to offer, including information about intramural sports offerings.

Tuesday, August 29:

First Year Honors Student Meeting — 11:00 to 11:50a.m. Important information for first-year honors students in Science 102. Choose one of the two meeting times. (Mandatory)

Grilled Cheese in the IRC — 11:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. Do you love the ooey-gooey goodness of a grilled cheese sandwich? Come and get one in the IRC. This is free for Ferris students and a great way to connect with people while enjoying some gourmet grilled cheese.

Headphone Disco — 9:00p.m. Students will gather in the North Quad to wear wireless headphones with the ability to switch through the variety of music that will be played by disc jockeys. Participants are able to choose their own music to dance and sing to during the event.

Wednesday, August 30:

Get Acquainted Day — 5:00 to 7:00p.m. Get Acquainted Day is our annual multicultural student welcome event in the North Campus Quad (rain location: University Center, Rankin Lounge). Event attendees will have an opportunity to connect with incoming and returning students, registered student organizations, supportive departments as well as win some great back-to-school prizes. The event is free and open to the public.

First Year Honors Student Meeting — 11:00 to 11:50a.m. Important information for first-year honors students in Science 102. Choose one of the two meeting times.(Mandatory)

President Eisler’s State of the University Speech — 11:00a.m. President David Eisler’s welcome-back-to-campus address will be hosted in the University Center. This presentation is open for everyone to come and hear the latest and greatest from President Eisler.

Founders’ Day Celebration/ Ice Cream Social — 4:00 to 6:30p.m. Founder’s Day is an annual event for students, faculty, staff and community members to come together to celebrate founders Woodbridge and Helen Gillespie Ferris, and their contributions to what is today known as Ferris State University. Come and enjoy some great food, great games, win lots of prizes, and eat free ice cream in the North Quad!

Friday, September 1:

Disc Golf — 1:00 to 3:00p.m. Play a round of 18 holes inside FLITE. Form a team of two and maneuver through the library including through the stacks and even up some stairs.

Saturday, September 2:

Michigan’s Adventure Trip — 10:00a.m. Want an adventure? Come to Michigan’s Adventure, with Ferris State University. Travel there and back, snacks, lunch and a day full of memories are provided.

Monday, September 4: (LABOR DAY – NO CLASSES)

Downtown Big Rapids Craft Show — 10:00a.m. The annual Mecosta County arts and craft show will be located in Hemlock park.

Spades and Euchre Tourneys — 9:00a.m. to 4:30p.m. There will be both Euchre and Spades tournaments running at the same time in the University Center Room 217. If you don’t know how to play, we will teach you.

Tuesday, September 5:

Academic Support Center Open House — 9:00a.m. to 4:30p.m. Stop by the Academic Support Center for games, prizes, and snacks. Also pick up information on the academic support center and what it has to offer you to be successful during your college career.

Lunch and Learn: Honors Summer Research Fellows — 11:00 to 11:50a.m. Honors students who participated as a Summer Research Fellow at Ferris State will present about the research they have been working on. Sign-up to attend by emailing honors@ferris.edu. (Cultural Event Opportunity)

Wednesday, September 6:

Bulldog Bonanza — 4:00 to 7:00p.m. Students will have the opportunity to find out what registered student organizations are available on campus and meet local vendors from the area at the University Center.

Thursday, September 7:

Center for Latin@ Studies Welcome Back Party — 11:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. Come find out what the Center for Latin@ Studies has to offer and how they can get you plugged in on campus. There will also be a great Taco bar.

Lunch and Learn: International Office — 11:00 to 11:50a.m. The International Office will talk about the opportunities that are available to you when it comes to Studying Abroad and exploring the world. To sign-up to attend please email honors@ferris.edu (Cultural Event Opportunity)

Friday, September 8:

Veteran’s Event on the Quad — 1:00p.m. Want to check out the new veterans space? Come hang out with our veterans on campus on North Campus Quad and find out what they have going on for this year.

Intensity Game Show — 8:00p.m. Intensity is a full-audience-participation trivia-based game show that includes a cash prize. This event challenges the participants in the areas of education, disciple, guts and all-out willingness to have some fast-paced fun.

Saturday, September 9:

B1G Alleyway Clean Up — 11:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. Come serve the community by helping clean up Big Rapids alley’s by the off campus student housing. A great way to give back to the community you live in. (Service Hours Opportunity)

EU Comedy Competition — 7:00p.m. Join us at the University Center’s Rankin Lounge stage to win a spot to open for the Homecoming comedian. Sign up via OrgSync and this is open to everyone in the Ferris community.

If you have any questions please call (231-591-2216) or email our office (honors@ferris.edu).

REMEMBER: We love to see our students excited and engaged so please feel free to post all your fun pictures and moments on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. using #FerrisHonorsMoveIn and #FerrisHonorsFunDay .

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The purpose of the Honors Program at Ferris State University is to provide intellectual challenges, resources and support to highly able and motivated students, while encouraging service and leadership for the public good.